Austin A30 / A35 History
Austin's first monocoque car and the debut of the legendary BMC A-Series engine — launched as the 'New Austin Seven'.
Photo: “1953 Austin A30 4 door Saloon (13688069285).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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Unveiled at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show as the 'New Austin Seven', the A30 was a landmark for the company: it was Austin's first car with fully stressed, chassis-less monocoque construction, making it lighter and stiffer than rivals, and it debuted the 803cc BMC A-Series engine that would power Austins (and the Mini) for decades. It went on sale in 1952 priced to undercut the Morris Minor.
The A35 replaced it in 1956 with a larger 948cc A-Series engine, more power and a larger rear window; saloon production ran to 1959, though the A35 van soldiered on into the late 1960s. About 223,264 A30s were built, and the A35 became a giant-killing club racer that is still campaigned today.
Generations
A30 · New Austin Seven
Photo: “1953 Austin A30 4 door Saloon (13688069285).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Austin's first monocoque car; 803cc A-Series. Saloon, estate and van bodies. About 223,264 built.
1953 Photo: “1953 Austin A30 4 door Saloon (13688069285).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1955 Photo: “Austin A30 (1955) (32235297253).jpg” by Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1956 Photo: “1956 Austin A30.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
A35
Photo: “1958 Austin A35 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Facelifted A30 with a 948cc A-Series, more power and a larger rear window; the van continued well past 1959.
1957 Photo: “1957 Austin A35 Green (1).jpg” by Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1958 Photo: “1958 Austin A35 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1959 Photo: “1959 Austin A35.jpg” by hugh llewelyn / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- 2-door saloon
- 4-door saloon
- Estate (Countryman)
- Van
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